Now that I have read this document, I realize that my initial instincts, thoughts and ideas are much better than taking the time to think. Yes, thinking too much does not work me. Venting, I mean writing does. So this is my account of February:
February 14, 2010 - Happy Birthday, Mark (oh yes, Happy Valentines day, Jo)
Happy Valentine’s Day. My daughter is engaged one day! Love is in the house. Olives are in my martini. Wine is flowing with dinner. Stephanie’s cell phone is ringing. Michael’s cell phone is ringing. Mark’s cell phone is ringing. Happy Birthday to Mark! Garrett’s cell phone is ALWAYS ringing. What about me? Yes I got a couple calls. Thank you. I did get kind responses on Facebook about my news, I mean my daughter's news!
February 15, 2010 - Aaaaaaad back to Dallas.
Things will sink in to include but certainly not limited to the fact that Stephanie will be moving to NYC with her fiance. I KNOW she will find a great job, She already loves NYC. But this is alot. I'm so exhausted just thinking about everything they have to do. But the planning must go on. Does it count as planning if we make a wedding list on the back of our boarding passes? I think it does. Whew, no wonder I was exhausted, alot of planning already.
Things will sink in to include but certainly not limited to the fact that Stephanie will be moving to NYC with her fiance. I KNOW she will find a great job, She already loves NYC. But this is alot. I'm so exhausted just thinking about everything they have to do. But the planning must go on. Does it count as planning if we make a wedding list on the back of our boarding passes? I think it does. Whew, no wonder I was exhausted, alot of planning already.
February 16, 2010 - Already doing things
Fortunately, I had a camera the day of the Proposal. My to do list: Upload the pictures. Make an album to share on Kodak and Facebook. Correspond with Michael’s parents. Bob and Melinda are my new favorite people. It is now clear to me why Michael is so great. It is also so clear why Stephanie loves him. Such joy comes over me at the fact that they found each other.
Fortunately, I had a camera the day of the Proposal. My to do list: Upload the pictures. Make an album to share on Kodak and Facebook. Correspond with Michael’s parents. Bob and Melinda are my new favorite people. It is now clear to me why Michael is so great. It is also so clear why Stephanie loves him. Such joy comes over me at the fact that they found each other.
February 17, 2010 - And doing more.
Ok……got the planner/organizer/guides. Now what? If I have to read thru these books first, I may be off schedule. Idiot's guide books are great. They make one for everyone involved in the wedding. There is one for the bride and groom as well as MOB and FOB, Maid of Honor, Mother/Father of the Groom. I wanted to buy everyone one. However, it would be rude to call that many people "idiots". So I did not.
Ok……got the planner/organizer/guides. Now what? If I have to read thru these books first, I may be off schedule. Idiot's guide books are great. They make one for everyone involved in the wedding. There is one for the bride and groom as well as MOB and FOB, Maid of Honor, Mother/Father of the Groom. I wanted to buy everyone one. However, it would be rude to call that many people "idiots". So I did not.
February 18, 2010 - Not exactly a nooner.
Noon, I’m in my jammies. These last few days I slept approximately 5 hours a night. So I think I just made up for it in sleeping in this morning. But as I’m getting ready to run errands and do my walk, Mark comes home stressing. Why? You ask? He was running late for lunch at the Four Seasons Golf Club to which he would have to eat fast to make his tee time. I just love this amazing man. Or should I say, it’s amazing that I love this man. (Just kidding)
Noon, I’m in my jammies. These last few days I slept approximately 5 hours a night. So I think I just made up for it in sleeping in this morning. But as I’m getting ready to run errands and do my walk, Mark comes home stressing. Why? You ask? He was running late for lunch at the Four Seasons Golf Club to which he would have to eat fast to make his tee time. I just love this amazing man. Or should I say, it’s amazing that I love this man. (Just kidding)
After bouncing a few things off of Mark, in regard to my wedding plans, I mean Stephanie & Mike’s wedding……Let’s just refer to it as “The Wedding”….. Mark was of little help. I can expect my brain will hurt if I start thinking too hard or too much without Mark bouncing back his comedic logic. Regular exercise and massages will be necessary. And Yoga. I should do yoga. Also, considered...is the fact that the newly engaged have little time in their current work schedules to prepare for a cross country move. Trying to coordinate with them will be so much fun.
February 19, 2009 - Sunday Dinners are my favorite
A lot of families that I know have certain times in which they set aside for traditional, special or bonding reasons. Couples have date night. Sunday is for Church. Morning coffee or a breakfast/brunch is nice. Growing up, I had Sunday dinners. No matter where you are, or what you are doing, you had be seated for Sunday dinner. My mother had it, with my grandma. My uncle Charlie then had it (with my grandma). I had it with my little family in Buffalo Grove, and also in Laguna Niguel home where my tomato plants were perennials! Just the 4 of us, Sunday dinners turned into Sunday football. And then these kids grew up, damn them! Our schedules were daunting; Sundays were the only free day in which my family (not necessarily me) got to do what they needed, whether it is to shop, do homework, and see friends outside of school or just veg. So…..now I have to plan something traditional, special or bonding as empty nesters. I did not plan on living in different states from my family and I miss those Sunday dinners.
A lot of families that I know have certain times in which they set aside for traditional, special or bonding reasons. Couples have date night. Sunday is for Church. Morning coffee or a breakfast/brunch is nice. Growing up, I had Sunday dinners. No matter where you are, or what you are doing, you had be seated for Sunday dinner. My mother had it, with my grandma. My uncle Charlie then had it (with my grandma). I had it with my little family in Buffalo Grove, and also in Laguna Niguel home where my tomato plants were perennials! Just the 4 of us, Sunday dinners turned into Sunday football. And then these kids grew up, damn them! Our schedules were daunting; Sundays were the only free day in which my family (not necessarily me) got to do what they needed, whether it is to shop, do homework, and see friends outside of school or just veg. So…..now I have to plan something traditional, special or bonding as empty nesters. I did not plan on living in different states from my family and I miss those Sunday dinners.
Mark and I go to Via Real almost every Friday night in Irving. Call it a date night, but really we enjoy a close convenient place. Edgar recognizes us and brings us our frozen margaritas. The food is excellent and appetizers usually suffice. Then we come home, light some candles and watch television. Tonight was just that and it was fun talking about wedding plans. And we decided on nothing.
A MOB cannot help but reminisce about her wedding, especially when it was great like ours. It became clear to us that of my bridesmaids, Susanne, at age 14, was the most helpful of them all. My bridesmaids also included my sister, a work friend (don’t talk to her ever anymore) and my closest Chicago friend till this day. AND they were great! But, need hairpins? Susanne. More ice? Susanne. Where are the flowers? Susanne would call. What the heck are the boys doing? Susanne found out. The limo is late? Susanne called the front desk. She was the backbone of my wedding party throughout the morning and afternoon. I’m sure she would have continued to be supportive at the reception, had she not enjoyed her cousins and “soda”.
The irony…, Stephanie was a teeny bopper when she was in Susanne’s wedding and now Susanne’s daughter, Isabella, will be a tween in Stephanie’s wedding. Therefore, to me, it makes sense for my daughter to have the support and logic of teeny boppers.
February 22, 2009 - I don't have time to do taxes this early.
This weekend was productive, productive and productive, but not in a wedding way. I’m nesting, I never have, but this has been my quest of late. I go to California, and need to conform and refresh my surroundings. I come back to Dallas and I love doing the same. It requires a lot of shopping too. My nesting ritual is affecting Mark. In a much needed organization of his clothing our weekend was consumed. This was a no brainer task compared to completing our taxes and the kid’s taxes. Done and Done.
This weekend was productive, productive and productive, but not in a wedding way. I’m nesting, I never have, but this has been my quest of late. I go to California, and need to conform and refresh my surroundings. I come back to Dallas and I love doing the same. It requires a lot of shopping too. My nesting ritual is affecting Mark. In a much needed organization of his clothing our weekend was consumed. This was a no brainer task compared to completing our taxes and the kid’s taxes. Done and Done.
It was also a welcomed diversion from the first of many spats with Stephanie. In our latest phone call, Stephanie was a bit testy. She is stressing out just to stress. To date (it’s only been a week) she has been calm, cool, excited and …ahem….mature about the process of changing everything she knows as her life. Being the effervescent mother that I am, my support was unparallel. Words of wisdom conformed Stephanie to calm and understanding. The logical enlightenment cleared all doubt, erased all speculation of what might be. Sometimes I wouldd like to be the aforementioned mother, but I am not.
Naturally frazzled, I expressed my frustration by harshly and loudly explaining to Stephanie the reality of planning a wedding. Brashly, explaining what is more important than getting her engagement portrait done. Little decisions like where, as in what frickin city, and when. Are we capable of pulling this off? Stephanie is the organizational diva. And Michael is the plan-man. So absolutely, we can do this and bond! But to make it easier on me which translates to easier on all of us, just one or two decisions need to be made soon. Therefore, the where and when needs to be decided. This makes sense to me and so it should make sense to the world.
February 23, 2010 - The first Party to plan!
And so today I can finalize…. invites to the engagement party, contract at Salt Creek Grill, for engagement party. In addition, check out favors maybe or cake, or flower vases or Yankee M & M’s. You read right. It’s the least I can do, while Stephanie pursues job opportunities, Michael, searches for the perfect apartment in which dogs are allowed. In their case, a building with an elevator and possibly a sunny terrace would be the perfect home for Winston. Hopefully, it’s close to a subway or bus in which to commute to work. That is not to say walking distance to doggy day care? They have their hands full.
And so today I can finalize…. invites to the engagement party, contract at Salt Creek Grill, for engagement party. In addition, check out favors maybe or cake, or flower vases or Yankee M & M’s. You read right. It’s the least I can do, while Stephanie pursues job opportunities, Michael, searches for the perfect apartment in which dogs are allowed. In their case, a building with an elevator and possibly a sunny terrace would be the perfect home for Winston. Hopefully, it’s close to a subway or bus in which to commute to work. That is not to say walking distance to doggy day care? They have their hands full.
